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Orlando Pride vs. CF Monterrey, NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: Final Score 2-2 as Pride Draw Rayadas and Win Penalty Shootout

The Pride came back from two deficits to draw CF Monterrey Femenil in the Summer Cup before taking a second point on penalties.

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2 years ago

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride (0-0-2, 3 points) came back from two deficits to draw CF Monterrey Femenil (0-1-1, 1 point) 2-2 tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. Former Pride forward Christina Burkenroad gave the hosts the lead in the 43rd minute, but Alex Kerr equalized in the 50th minute with her first professional goal. Las Rayadas retook the lead in the 61st minute from a great Rebeca Bernal strike, and Julie Doyle, a second-half substitute in this game, equalized in the 83rd minute. The Pride then won 5-4 on penalties to claim the extra point.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made six changes to the starting lineup that drew 1-1 against the North Carolina Courage a week ago. McKinley Crone, Haley McCutcheon, Amanda Allen, Summer Yates, and Doyle all started the game on the bench and Bri Martinez was out after suffering a leg injury in North Carolina. They were replaced by Sofia Manner, Cori Dyke, Mariana Larroquette, Ally Lemos, Evelina Duljan, and Kerr.

“There’s a few niggles that we don’t want to risk. Haley McCutcheon, Kerry Abello both having niggles and we don’t want to put any of our players at risk,” Hines said. “But also it gives players an opportunity to go out there and perform. So, the likes of Cori Dyke coming in and playing left back position. She’s played a couple of times off the bench, but getting the start and rolling in that position was really important for us moving forward into the end of the season. Players like Ally Lemos, she’s had two starts all year, but coming in and starting the game, really important for her development moving forward. Evelina, you know, only played 10 minutes last game, but then getting her start and she fully took her opportunity today. And that was really pleasing to see. So, yeah, we’re going to need players in this last 10 games in the season to make sure that we get ourselves in a position that we all hope for, and what we wanted at the start of the year.”

Hines went with a 4-3-3 formation to start this game, a rarity for the Pride. The back line in front of Manner in goal was Dyke, Kylie Strom, Carrie Lawrence, and Celia. Lemos, Morgan Gautrat, and Duljan were in the midfield, with Ally Watt, Kerr, and Larroquette up top.

The Pride got off to the better start, creating multiple chances in the first 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the visitors struggled to get the ball into the final third. Rayadas had their first chance around the 30-minute mark and began to create problems after that. The main issue for this Pride lineup — which was largely made up of reserves — was finding the target. As a result, they had to come back from two deficits, but did so to get something from the game.

The Pride got off to an attacking start, though they found it difficult to find a way through the back line. Watt dribbled across the top of the box in the ninth minute and shot from distance, but it was blocked. Larroquette had her first chance to shoot shortly after and her first attempt at goal was blocked by a defender as well.

It looked like the Pride might have a breakaway in the 10th minute when Strom sent Kerr behind the Monterrey back line. She had a step on her defender, but the flag went up for offside.

In the 14th minute, Watt went down from a challenge by Jermaine Seoposenwe off of a Pride throw-in. The ensuing set piece by Lemos was headed over the crossbar by Merel van Dongen for the game’s first corner kick. Again, Lemos took the set piece. However, it was too close to Rayadas goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar, who caught it in the air.

The visitors had their first decent attack in the 23rd minute when Burkenroad dribbled towards the end line. She attempted to get a cross off, but Strom was there to block it out of play. The ensuing corner kick was to the back post, where van Dongen got her head to the ball, sending it wide.

The Pride were given a good opportunity in the 35th minute when a bad pass out of the back by van Dongen went straight to Lemos. The Pride midfielder played it forward for Kerr, who sent it right back. Karol Bernal challenged Lemos as she attempted to play the ball outside for Duljan, stepping on Lemos’ foot. Referee Shawn Tehini immediately whistled for a free kick just outside of the Monterrey box.

Larroquette and Lemos stood over the ball with Larroquette taking the set piece. The forward was looking for goal but sent her shot just wide of the near post.

The Pride won another corner kick in the 41st minute when Duljan made a run to the end line and her cross was blocked out of play by Bernal for a corner kick. Lemos’ ensuing set piece was over everyone and recovered by Gautrat. The Pride midfielder was shoved down by the forearm of Seoposenwe, but Tehini decided it wasn’t a foul.

After a quick pass with her teammate, Seoposenwe collided with Dyke just beyond midfield. The crowd booed as Tehini gave Monterrey a free kick with much less contact than the previous shove. Nicole Perez sent the free kick into the box where van Dongen headed it forward for Burkenroad. The forward’s second touch was past Manner and in to give the visitors a late first-half lead.

Neither team was able to create an opportunity in the three minutes of first-half stoppage time, so Monterrey took a 1-0 lead into the break. The Pride had more first-half possession (53%-47%) and shots (4-3), but the only attempt on target was Burkenroad’s goal.

“At halftime, we talked about what type of team do we want to be when we’re 1-0 down,” Hines said. “I thought in the first half we played a lot of direct play and I wanted us to control the game. Get a few more passes, use the middle, find the 10s in the middle, and the first half we didn’t do that. You know, the goal is frustrating because what led to it, the free kick, and we’ve been very good in defending set pieces this year. So that was disappointing.”

The Pride created the first chance of the second half just four minutes after the restart. It came from a long ball by Gautrat to Watt. The forward took on the multiple defenders by herself, eventually shooting from about 30 yards out. While this attempt wasn’t blocked, it went way over the goal.

The Pride found their equalizer in the 50th minute when Kerr received a long ball out of the back and used a great individual effort to get her first professional goal. The rookie received the ball on the left and, after dribbling inside, tried to play Watt back out wide. However, the ball bounced off a defender and went right back to her. Kerr shot for the corner from just outside of the box, putting it past Tajonar and in to even the game at 1-1.

“Got the ball and started driving inside, and then Ally kind of made that run outside. So, I originally tried to play that ball to her down the line that kind of got the rebound off the defender and just kept going inside and that was just up to me,” Kerr said about her goal. “So I just placed it hard and low on the ground.”

“It’s a great goal,” Hines said. “You know, received that in the wide space, having the ability to turn and play, cutting inside. You know, it’s a lucky ricochet, but having the composure to go back across goal and it’s a great finish.”

Hines made his first two changes in the 59th minute, bringing in a pair of regular starters. Kerry Abello and Yates came into the game for Strom and Gautrat. While Abello is usually a right back, she took over for Strom at center back after entering the game.

Monterrey retook the lead shortly after the changes, scoring its second goal in the 61st minute. Receiving the ball from the right, center back Rebeca Bernal took one touch before firing from long distance. Abello was closing down the defender, but the shot was past her. There wasn’t much Manner could do about it as the ball went into the corner to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

They looked to extend their lead in the 62nd minute when Seoposenwe was sent down the left. Catching up to the ball before it crossed the end line, nobody in purple closed her down, enabling the midfielder to send it into the box. Abello was beaten to the ball by Myra Delgadillo, who volleyed it on target, but the redirection was right to Manner.

A poor clearance out of the back by Dyke in the 65th minute was won by Monterrey. Van Dongen collected the ball and her second touch was a shot from long distance. It was a quality strike, and the ball appeared to be heading just inside the far post, but Manner dove and caught it.

Shortly after the chance, Hines made his third substitution. Doyle, another regular starter for the Pride, came into the game for Larroquette. The Pride made their fourth change and used their final window in the 72nd minute. Watt exited the game and was replaced by Allen in a like-for-like change.

Doyle tried to get the Pride back even with multiple runs into the box, but she was usually unable to get past the defenders. The midfielder took a shot from long range in the 80th minute that just skipped wide of the post. She protested Tehini’s call of a goal kick, thinking it was off a defender or tipped by Tajonar, but it was ruled to have gone directly through and out of play.

The Pride found their second equalizer of the night in the 83rd minute. After receiving a short pass from Abello, Yates played a beautiful long pass to Celia on the right. The right back used a stepover to create some space and sent a low cross to the top of the six while falling down. Doyle was the first to the pass, redirecting it past Tajonar and into the far corner to even the game at 2-2.

“When I was on the bench, I saw that Celia was getting a lot of success on that wing, and you know Celia, she can serve a ball on the dime,” Doyle said. “So, I knew I just had to hold my run a little bit not close my own space, and I knew she was going to put it right where I wanted it, and that’s exactly what she did. She beat her player, she put it on the carpet, and all I had to do was guide it into the goal.”

Doyle had a chance to give her team the lead in the 86th minute when she was sent forward by Duljan. Despite the midfielder’s speed, the center backs were able to catch up with her and rustle the ball away, enabling Tajonar to collect it.

Six minutes were added to the second half, but neither team was able to create solid chances in that time. As a result, the game ended 2-2 and the Pride continued their unbeaten run in all competitions to start the season.

The Pride ended the game with more possession (51.5%-48.5%), shots (9-7), crosses (12-6), and corner kicks (4-1). They also had better passing accuracy (80.8%-77.4%) in the 90 minutes. The difference in the game was the shooting accuracy. The Pride only put two shots on target — both goals — and Rayadas put five of their seven chances on frame.

“Second half was a different team,” Hines said. “We played a lot more through the middle. The second goal epitomizes what we’re trying to do. Good pass out to Celia, great one-v-one, great run from Jules, and then an unbelievable finish to make it 2-2.”

The draw meant that the two teams would go to a penalty shootout to see who got the extra point. The penalties were well taken, with nine of the 10 penalties being converted. The difference came in the third round when van Dongen attempted a panenka. Manner stood her ground and didn’t dive, enabling her to catch the attempt without moving. After scoring the first equalizing goal in the second half, Kerr converted the final penalty and the Pride took two points from their second Summer Cup game.

The draw means that the Pride have still yet to lose this season in all competitions. After going unbeaten in their first 16 NWSL games, they’ve drawn both Summer Cup matches. As a result, they’re now on an 18-game unbeaten run this season.

The Pride will wrap up the group stage of the Summer Cup on Aug. 1 when they welcome Racing Louisville FC to Orlando.

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Orlando Pride vs. Bay FC: Final Score 3-1 as Banda Brace Leads Pride to Victory

Barbra Banda bags a brace and an assist but goes down injured late in the victory.

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6 days ago

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May 29, 2026

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Image of Barbra Banda celebrating her goal against Bay FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

After dropping two games to expansion teams and stealing a win in San Diego, the Orlando Pride looked to enter the summer break on a good note. The Pride (5-5-2, 17 points) had never lost to Bay FC (3-6-2, 11 points) and used a second-half burst to maintain that winning record and won 3-1 at Inter&Co Stadium.

Barbra Banda opened the scoring in the fourth minute and followed it up in the 51st minute with her second. She added an assist to Cori Dyke in the 55th minute to close out the Pride scoring. Caroline Conti scored the lone Bay FC goal at the seven-minute mark.

“No better gift than a 3-1 victory at home in front of our fans,” Pride Head Coach (and birthday boy) Seb Hines said after the game. “It feels good that we’re ending this period on a high. I think it’s the first time this season we’ve got back-to-back victories.”

The Pride made one change in the lineup, giving Kerry Abello her first start of the season over Julie Doyle. Anna Moorhouse started in goal with Abello, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Oihane on defense. Haley McCutcheon and Ally Lemos played midfield in front of them with Mace, Luana, and Nicole Payne attacking from the midfield. Banda and her leading-leading nine goals played alone up top.

After an hour weather delay, the Pride went with the in-vogue start these days by kicking the ball straight out of bounds deep on the start and pressing high. It led to an opening three minutes of play in which the Pride kept the pressure up and forced the ball to stay on the Bay FC side. In the fourth minute, Luana headed a ball towards the center which Banda controlled, bodied Bay FC’s Joelle Anderson off the ball, and slotted the opening goal with her left foot.

Bay FC fought right back in the seventh minute as the visitors didn’t have to fight through the press off their kickoff. Claire Hutton crossed the ball into the box, Abello deflected it wide but there was no Pride defender there and it fell to Caroline Conti. Abello tried to fight all the way over but Conti was able to put it past Moorhouse before any help arrived.

The entire back line got pulled to the right on the play and Mace could not get back to help out wide.

“Hailie Mace came into NWSL as a winger. She’s got some tendencies that fit a winger profile. We knew Bay FC had a high back line. How do we get behind that back line? Having someone to support Barbra and not just Nicole but add in another player who can get into the attack,” Hines said regarding the switch.

In the 16th minute, Rachael Kundananji beat Oihane and crossed the ball to Hannah Bebar, who headed it into the net, but Cristiana Girelli was in an offside position threatening the goal, so the assistant referee ruled that it put Moorhouse off enough to interfere with the play.

The teams settled down a bit and traded possession until the 27th minute when Oihane centered the ball to Payne, who scuffed the shot high. One minute later, Luana sent a through ball for Banda to run onto and she went down in the box in a collision with Brooklyn Courtnall. It was fairly evident, however, that Banda got her leg into Courtnall’s to either try to control the ball or draw a foul, and the referee, Jaclyn Metz, saw it the same way.

In the 33rd minute, Oihane was subbed out for Hannah Anderson. Oihane had been laboring a little and may have picked up a knock somewhere.

The Pride couldn’t re-establish the high press so they turned into a lot of possession by Bay FC. Any attack by the Pride ended in a turnover off a bad pass or ill-conceived long shots as Orlando’s attackers were impatient in building play. Turnover after turnover plagued the Pride for the remainder of the half as they did not threaten at all until the 45th minute, when Banda took on Maddie Moreau and Kundananji, shook them both loose, and then crossed the ball into an empty area at the back post with no one to finish.

It was a fitting final piece of sound and fury, signifying nothing, as the half wrapped without any plays of interest. The Pride weren’t able to lead any of the statistics, tying Bay FC in shots (4-4), while Bay FC led in shots on target (3-1), possession (53%-47%), and passing accuracy (85%-83%). Neither team was able to force a corner in the first half.

To start the second half, Hines subbed in Summer Yates for Abello, which pushed Mace back to the back line. In the 48th minute, Kundananji got behind when Anderson got caught out and was sizing up a one-on-one with Moorhouse. Dyke hustled back and blocked the shot.

“We started the game super strong, super intense, but I think we fell off towards the end of that first half,” Dyke said. “We got a little too stretched between the lines and weren’t getting enough pressure on the ball and we talked about that at halftime. We needed to stay more compact and then pick our moments to go.”

Go they did. Three minutes later, Yates sent a through ball angled behind Banda which allowed her to run onto the ball unopposed. She beat goalkeeper Emmie Allen, who came out of the box aggressively to defend, and then passed the ball into the net in the 51st minute.

Four minutes later, Banda pressured Allen, forcing the goalkeeper into a clearance out of play. On the ensuing throw-in, Banda held off Bebar in the box, spun, and crossed the ball to Dyke, who put the ball in off the crossbar. The ability of the Pride to retain possession and work the ball in against a lesser opponent opened up the scoring and turned the game on its head.

Bay FC didn’t have a lot to do over the next stretch of time and Taylor Huff went down with an injury in the 61st minute, prompting a change as she was subbed out for Karlie Lema. Dorian Bailey came on for Joelle Anderson in the same stoppage but at the 62nd minute.

The teams went back and forth for a bit until the Pride drew a corner in the 71st minute. It deflected off a Bay FC defender and fell to Rafaelle at the far post, who headed it just wide. Three minutes later, Jacquie Ovalle and Zara Chavoshi wrapped up the Pride substitutions by coming in for Payne and Mace. Bay FC also took the stoppage in the 74th minute to sub two players in, bringing on Keria Barry and Onyeka Gamero for Kundananji and Girelli.

Unfortunately, in the 81st minute, Banda was dribbling down the left side when she pulled up lame and went to the ground off the pitch. She stayed there until tended to and was obviously upset. We’ll have to wait for any injury news on her. Bay FC made its final substitution in the ensuing stoppage in the 82nd minute, bringing on Kelli Hubly for Conti.

The injury to Banda left the Pride playing with only 10 players for the remaining 15 minutes (including added time) due to using up all three substitution windows. They stayed fairly solid in defense and played a lot of keep-away ball to see out the victory while playing short.

“A great way to finish this part of the season with a win at home. I think we were consistent today and we took the chances we created,” Luana said. “We’ve been having highs and lows in this part of the season but we bounced back in these two wins and it brought us a lot of confidence.”

Orlando City was ahead in the only stat that matters, goals, but trailed in every other major stat. Bay FC finished ahead in shots (14-8), shots on target (5-4), possession (54%-46%), passing accuracy (85%-84%), and corners (4-1).

The Orlando Pride now will be off until early July for the NWSL World Cup break. The next match is scheduled for July 3 in Los Angeles against Angel City FC.

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Orlando Pride vs. Bay FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride return home to face Bay FC in their final game before the FIFA World Cup break.

Published

6 days ago

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May 29, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to your preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (4-5-2, 14 points) return home from a three-game road trip to take on Bay FC (3-5-2, 11 points). This is the first of two meetings between the two teams with the return game scheduled for Sept. 27 in San Jose.

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

History

Bay FC is one of two expansion teams that entered the NWSL for the 2024 season. The teams have met four times, with the Pride holding a 3-0-1 record and a 1-0-1 mark at home in the series.

The most recent meeting took place on Sept. 13, 2025, in Orlando. The visitors took the lead just before halftime when Racheal Kundananji headed in a long pass by Caprice Dydasco. The Pride equalized in the second half, when Ally Watt headed a Jacquie Ovalle cross past Jordan Silkowitz to claim a 1-1 draw.

On June 13 of last year in San Jose, CA, Bay FC led almost every statistical category, but the Pride defense held strong until Barbra Banda scored shortly after halftime. The Pride withstood attack after attack, coming away with a hard-fought 1-0 win.

The teams met twice in 2024, with the first-ever game between the clubs occurring on May 11. Just prior to the half-hour mark, Banda dribbled inside and Deyna Castellanos attempted an ill-advised challenge, resulting in a foul in the box and a Pride penalty. Adriana put the ball into the bottom left corner for the only goal, lifting the Pride to a 1-0 win. It was the sixth win in an NWSL-record, eight-game win streak.

The teams met for the second time on Sept. 20, 2024. It looked like the game might be headed for a scoreless draw until Banda got her head on the end of a Carson Pickett cross, redirecting it past Katelyn Rowland to give the Pride the 1-0 win.

Overview

The Pride return home tonight after a difficult road trip that saw the team fall 2-1 to Boston Legacy FC and 3-1 to Denver Summit FC. Having already lost to both expansion teams, they headed west to face San Diego Wave FC, a team near the top of the standings. But Nicole Payne’s first professional goal lifted Orlando to a 1-0 win.

Despite not scoring in two of the last three games, Banda still leads the league with nine goals in 10 games this season. She has a two-goal lead on Ashley Sanchez, who is second in the league. Haley McCutcheon is the only other Pride player with multiple goals, scoring twice in the same game. Ovalle, Marta, and Hannah Anderson have the team’s other three goals. The assists have been spread out much more evenly with Ovalle, McCutcheon, and Rafaelle all sharing the team lead with two.

The clean sheet against San Diego was big for the back line as the team has conceded too many goals recently. Dating back to their 3-2 loss to Racing Louisville FC on April 24, the Pride have conceded multiple goals in four of the last six games. The only other game in which they didn’t concede at least twice was a 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage on May 8, their last home game.

Tonight is the Pride’s last game before the league breaks for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After the game, they won’t play again until July 3 and won’t play at home until July 10. That makes getting a quality result tonight essential for momentum going through the remainder of the season.

If you’re looking for a team to win against, Bay FC is one of the most likely candidates. The Bay -area side sits 13th in the NWSL on 11 points, just four points ahead of Louisville for last place. Tonight’s visitors are currently on a four-game winless run (0-2-2) and a two-game losing streak. Their last win was a 1-0 victory against San Diego on May 3. The club’s most recent games are a 2-0 loss to Portland Thorns FC on May 20 and a 1-0 loss to Chicago Stars FC on May 24.

Bay FC has struggled this year on both ends of the field. Its eight goals are second fewest in the league and Bay is one of three teams with single-digit goals this year. Meanwhile, the team’s 14 goals conceded are sixth in the league. The California side has been better defensively overall than the Pride, who have conceded 16 goals, but worse offensively, as the Pride have scored 15 goals so far this year.

Bay FC has been led in the attack by Alex Pfeiffer and Dorian Bailey with two goals each. Kundananji, Taylor Huff, Keira Barry, and Joelle Anderson have one apiece. Pfeiffer also leads the team in assists with two, tied with Cristina Girelli. Huff and Sydney Collins are the only other players with assists this season.

It should help the Pride tonight that Bay FC will be missing two key players. Silkowitz and starting center back Aldana Cometti were sent off against Chicago Sunday, meaning they’ll miss tonight’s game.

However, the Pride have their own key absences. In addition to injuries that have accumulated this season, Angelina was handed an additional game’s suspension after being sent off on May 16 for pulling Delanie Sheehan’s hair.

“We’re looking forward to it. Looking forward to being back home,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “It’s been a long road trip. Excited to get in front of our own fans. Want to create that atmosphere, make it hostile for Bay FC. We know it’s a quick turnaround for both teams as well, so we want to make sure that we start off on the front foot, build on what we achieved last Sunday in San Diego, and finish this part of the season on a high.”

The Pride will be without Angelina (suspension), Cosette Morche (ankle), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Viviana Villacorta (knee), and Solai Washington (knee). Marta (thigh) and Ovalle (thigh) are listed as questionable. Bay FC will be without Cornetti (suspension), Abby Dahlkemper (maternity leave), Anouk Denton (lower leg), Dydasco (maternity leave), Heather Gilchrist (knee), Alyssa Malonson (knee), Emily Menges (maternity leave), Pfeiffer (knee), and Silkowitz (suspension).

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Oihane, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, Hailie Mace.

Defensive Midfielders: Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon.

Attacking Midfielders: Kerry Abello, Luana, Nicole Payne.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Zara Chavoshi, Hannah Anderson, Julie Doyle, Marta, Jacquie Ovalle, Summer Yates, Seven Castain, Simone Jackson.

Bay FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Emmie Allen.

Defenders: Sydney Collins, Joelle Anderson, Brooklyn Courtnall, Maddie Moreau.

Defensive Midfielders: Hannah Bebar, Claire Hutton.

Attacking Midfielders: Racheal Kundananji, Caroline Conti, Taylor Huff.

Forward: Cristiana Girelli.

Bench: Camryn Miller, Kelli Hubly, Jamie Shepherd, Dorian Bailey, Karlie Lema, Onyeka Gamero, Tess Boade, Keira Barry.

Referees

REF: Jaclyn Metz.
AR1: Art Arustamyan.
AR2: Adam Cook.
4TH: Edson Carvajal.
VAR: Anya Voigt.
AVAR: Katarzyna Wasiak.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: None.

Streaming: NWSL+.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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Orlando Pride vs. Bay FC: Three Keys to Victory

What do the Pride need to do to earn all three points against Bay FC?

Published

1 week ago

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May 28, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride welcome Bay FC to Inter&Co Stadium this Friday night for the last match before the World Cup break. This is an opportunity to get a win over a team lower in the table and move up in the standings. What must the Pride do to earn all three points against Bay FC this weekend?

Keep the Chip

I have been asking all season on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for the Pride to play with the chip on their shoulder that they had when they won the double in 2024. We saw that against the San Diego Wave. My hope is that the players have now remembered what that feels like and will execute with the same level of intensity going forward.

The task is potentially a little easier against Bay FC, as the California-based side has scored less than half the number of goals that the Wave have this season. Of course, that is the trap. The Pride cannot slack off against Bay FC. Having Rafaelle anchoring the defense is a big help, and moving Hailie Mace out to right back has proven effective. In 2024, this team hated — with a capital “H” — conceding goals. They took it personally. That is the passion I want again. The chip on the shoulder.

Overwhelm and Outscore

As I mentioned above, Bay FC is not a prolific scoring team. Friday’s visitors have also given up 14 goals this season. That’s not the best or the worst in the league, but they haven’t faced Barbra Banda yet. The Orlando Pride don’t have any trouble creating chances, but they have had trouble getting anyone other than Banda to finish them this season. Banda leads the league in goals, and she has an opportunity to maintain or extend that lead against Bay FC.

What will truly make the difference for the Pride against Bay FC is if any of the other players can contribute a goal. We saw the space that Banda can provide her teammates when Nicole Payne scored her first goal against San Diego. Now I want other players to take advantage of that space to provide some goals for the Pride.

More Luana

Luana got her first start since coming back to the squad cancer-free. I think we’ve forgotten that she was a starter on the 2024 squad before her Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis. She was a starter on a team that won the double. Now she is back and she is a leader and an inspiration for her fellow players.

Given Marta’s limited minutes, having Luana out there as a stabilizing presence is important. Obviously, she brings a different skill set than Marta but still a critical one. Much like the defense, the midfield was better last match, and I feel she was a big part of that.

That is what I will be looking for on Friday night. The Pride can head into the World Cup break on a high with a victory. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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